Puppy underweight - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

codybrantford · 11-16-2012, 04:32 PM

Hey everyone, so Buffy is 1 year and 2 months old. She was a fat puppy and very healthy, she's shy and probably a bit too attached to me so gets nervous easily (even with lots of socialization and new experiences).
Anyways, she seems too skinny to me for the past few months. I can see her ribs a lot of the time and when you pet her you can prominently feel her spine (but you can't see it). She still has a ton of loose 'puppy skin'. It stretches out a lot without bothering her. I kept on Acana large breed puppy for 1 year and just tried Acana salmon, now adult large breed. She hasn't cared much for either (or the lamb one which I took back). In the morning, if I don't get her to eat her food - which is around 2 cups I think) she will let it sit all day or try to bury it until her nose bleeds. Then when I get home she will eat it like she's been starving all day. So, I know the separation anxiety is preventing her from eating while I'm not home, is there any way I could get her to eat? Generally she'll eat 1 - 1.5 cups in the morning and then 2 cups in the evening.
Just keep trying foods maybe until I find one she really likes? Or should I go back to puppy food until she gains some more weight?
Btw she's around 55lbs, I'd say smaller and sleeker than most dobes I've seen, or my old one.
Also her parents were 90 and 100 lbs.

Any advice? I really want to get her up to her best

AlyssaN · 11-16-2012, 04:37 PM

That does sound very small, have you taken her to the vet to get a full check-up done? I'd start there. Out of curiosity, have you tried other foods? Because I'm a little confused as to why you chose this one when you state that "she hasn't cared much" for the food. Is it food, or is it the brand?

Once again, vet first. If he gives you the go ahead I'd start trying out new foods that she wants to eat. You'd probably be skinny if you hated salmon and that's all you were allowed to eat as well.

codybrantford · 11-17-2012, 05:41 AM

Its the brand Acana. Started with large breed puppy. Then when I switched to adult ive tried these flavours; salmon, lamb and then the large breed adult. I'm going to try a different flavour of the acana today. I just felt kind of weird returning it if she didnt like it right away, but they said its ok. So hopefully today ill find the goldilocks flavour lol. I' going to see if i can get into the vet monday.

OldDrumDobes · 11-17-2012, 05:51 AM

If she likes the puppy food and isn't eating now I'd go back to it. Also set a time limit on eating, the bowl is done say 10-15 minutes. Encourage eating and keep the dog focused on eating. As well if it was me I'd add canned food to make the food more exciting to it and help add weight. As well visit your vet as suggested.

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BrinksBlue · 11-17-2012, 08:35 AM

I second vet and trying to find a food she goes crazy about. I will also say that if it is separation anxiety, you need to start working on curbing that as well. Talk to the vet about it. Google separation anxiety behavior modification. They are easy things that you can do to help decrease the anxiety. One of our greyhounds we got when she retired from racing had HORRIBLE SA, to the point that we nearly returned her to the rescue. We went through 6 months of hell, medications and behavior modifications and then one day something clicked for Mesa (greyhound.) SA isn't something that is ever cured but we can now leave the house without her screaming the entire time we are gone, her peeing, pooping, chewing, mutilating herself in the crate, etc. Now, obviously this was SEVERE SA and it doesn't sound at all like you are there. But if SA is really part of the problem, it doesn't hurt to fix it before it gets worse. And it may even help with your feeding problems too!

Oh, also, have you tried a frozen kong with her breakfast in it when you're gone? Mixed with peanut butter or yogurt or something she loves? Dual purpose: she eats, plus extra calories from the PB/yogurt/etc and she will have something to do instead of think about how you aren't there!

ETA: Medication for SA is only if behavior modification doesn't work. Mesa had to go it for 3 months. She has been off it for about 9 months though and we are still holding strong! No SA symptoms here, but we still do the behavior modifications daily. They are simple things, like ignoring all the dogs for 10 minutes before we leave and 10 minutes after we get home. No "ohhhh bye baby, I'll miss you!" and no "I"M HOME!!! Hi honey!"

stryker2 · 11-17-2012, 08:51 AM

Do a Vet visit just to make sure. Some do get tired of the same food. For sure do the 10-15 min rule. Add some canned. Champion Foods which make Acana and Orijen do not make canned food. Acana is one of the top rated foods. We feed Acana and Orijen. Try a different flavor of Acana.
Put a Raw Organic Egg in the food. We also supplement with USDA Organic Coconut Oil. Our boys can't wait to lick the spoon.
You can feed her more food. But I would split it into 3-4 meals a day.
The feeding guidelines on bags of food are starting points. Each dog is different. It will depend on how active the dogs is and its metabolism.

codybrantford · 11-17-2012, 11:13 PM

Awesome! Thanks so much everyone. So today bought a new flavour of acana and filled one bowl with her old food, one with new. She wont go near the new one lol. Figures. Tomorrow i will take it back and im going to try the egg.
Shes an odd one, doesnt like peanut butter...what dog doesnt like peanut butter?!?

I think i will grab some of that soft champion an mix a little with her normal food in the mornings. Then some new toys for when im gone. Already do the no goodbyes or hellos.

codybrantford · 11-19-2012, 08:48 AM

UPDATE: Found a flavour she likes! Ranchlands...of course it's the most expensive one (btw how do they charge different amounts for different flavours of the same brand...that sucks).
So she's eating well now. I couldn't get into the vet today, so I'll wait a week and see if she keeps up with the eating.

AgileDobe · 11-19-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codybrantford

UPDATE: Found a flavour she likes! Ranchlands...of course it's the most expensive one (btw how do they charge different amounts for different flavours of the same brand...that sucks).
So she's eating well now. I couldn't get into the vet today, so I'll wait a week and see if she keeps up with the eating.

Different flavors cost more because the ingredients cost more (or less). You can't get chicken for the same price as beef, lamb, duck, fish, bison, pork etc. Red meats are generally more expensive than white meats, with fish falling somewhere in the middle typically.

The Beef, Bison and Lamb in the Ranchlands will cost more than the Chicken and Turkey found in the Wild Praire line of Acana.